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The RTÉ Sports Person of the Year Award is the titular award of the RTÉ Sports Awards ceremony, which takes place each December. The winner is the Irish sportsperson (from the island of Ireland) judged to have achieved the most that year. The winner was originally chosen by a special panel of RTÉ journalists and editorial staff, but was selected by a public vote from a predetermined shortlist in 2016.


History

The first Irish sports award ceremony took place in 1985, and was closely modelled on the
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award The BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award is the main award of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, which takes place each December. The winner is the sportsperson, judged by a public vote, to have achieved the most that year. The ...
. Four people have won the award multiple times:
athlete An athlete is most commonly a person who competes in one or more sports involving physical strength, speed, power, or endurance. Sometimes, the word "athlete" is used to refer specifically to sport of athletics competitors, i.e. including track ...
Sonia O'Sullivan won the award five times, including a record three successive awards, and
golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...
er
Pádraig Harrington Pádraig Peter Harrington (born 31 August 1971) is an Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour, PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. He has won three men's major golf championships, major championships: The Open Championship in 2 ...
and boxer
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
, with three wins, and
golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...
er
Rory McIlroy Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking and has spent over 100 weeks in that position du ...
, who won it twice. The oldest recipient of the award is
Christy O'Connor Jnr Christy O'Connor Jnr (born Christopher O'Connor; 19 August 1948 – 6 January 2016) was an Irish professional golfer. He is best known for defeating American Fred Couples at the 1989 Ryder Cup, helping Europe secure the trophy. Early life O'Co ...
, who won in 1989 aged 41. Rory McIlroy, who first won in 2011, aged 22, is the youngest winner. Ten sporting disciplines have been represented;
golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...
has the highest representation, with eight recipients. Eamonn Darcy,
Ronan Rafferty Ronan Patrick Rafferty (born 13 January 1964) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who formerly played on the European Tour. He won the European Tour Harry Vardon Trophy, Order of Merit in 1989 European Tour, 1989. Early life Rafferty was ...
and
Des Smyth Desmond John Smyth (born 12 February 1953) is an Irish professional golfer. He won eight times on the European Tour between 1979 and 2001. He also had a successful senior career winning twice on the PGA Tour Champions and five times on the Europ ...
, who won the
Alfred Dunhill Cup The Alfred Dunhill Cup was a team golf tournament which ran from 1985 to 2000, sponsored by Alfred Dunhill Ltd. It was for three-man teams of professional golfers, one team representing each country, and was promoted as the "World Team Championsh ...
in 1988, are the only non-individual winners of the award. Counting them separately, there have been thirty-four winners of the award (from 1985 to 2024). Seven of these have been
Northern Irish The people of Northern Ireland are all people born in Northern Ireland and having, at the time of their birth, at least one parent who is a British Nationality Law, British citizen, an Irish nationality law, Irish citizen or is otherwis ...
. The most recent award was made in 2024 to double Olympic champion rower Paul O'Donovan.


Winners


Gallery

File:Sean Kelly, Tour de France 2009.jpg, Seán Kelly won in 1986. File:Roche - Tour de France 1993 (cropped).jpg,
Stephen Roche Stephen Roche (; born 28 November 1959) is an Irish former professional road racing cyclist. In a 13-year professional career, he peaked in 1987, becoming the second of only three cyclists to win the Triple Crown of victories in the Tour de ...
won in 1987. File:Christy O'Connor.JPG,
Christy O'Connor Jnr Christy O'Connor Jnr (born Christopher O'Connor; 19 August 1948 – 6 January 2016) was an Irish professional golfer. He is best known for defeating American Fred Couples at the 1989 Ryder Cup, helping Europe secure the trophy. Early life O'Co ...
won in 1989. File:Sonia osullivan 2000-2.jpg, Sonia O'Sullivan won in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998 and 2000. File:Ken Doherty PHC 2012-3.jpg,
Ken Doherty Kenneth Joseph Doherty (born 17 September 1969) is an Irish professional snooker player who also works as a commentator and pundit on televised snooker broadcasts. From Ranelagh in Dublin, he is the sport's only World Snooker Championship, wor ...
won in 1997. File:Roy keane 2014.jpg,
Roy Keane Roy Maurice Keane (born 10 August 1971) is an Irish football pundit, former coach, and former professional player. He is best known for his career in the Premier League, in particular his captaincy of Manchester United. He is the joint most ...
won in 1999. File:Mick McCarthy Wolverhampton Wanderers Manager.jpg,
Mick McCarthy Michael Joseph McCarthy (born 7 February 1959) is a professional Manager (association football), football manager, pundit and former Association football, footballer. He was most recently the head coach of Blackpool F.C., Blackpool. McCarthy b ...
won in 2001. File:Ronan O'Gara 2007 (cropped).jpg,
Ronan O'Gara Ronan John Ross O'Gara (born 7 March 1977) is an Irish former rugby union player and current coach. O'Gara played as a fly-half and is Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland's third most-capped player and second highest points scorer. He i ...
won in 2004. File:Henry Shefflin.jpg,
Henry Shefflin Henry Shefflin (born 11 January 1979) is an Irish hurling List of hurling managers, manager and former player who was the manager of the Galway senior hurling team from 2021 to 2024. In his playing career he was nicknamed "King Henry" because o ...
won in 2006. File:Brian O'Driscoll_2.jpg,
Brian O'Driscoll Brian Gerard O'Driscoll (born 21 January 1979) is an Irish former professional rugby union player. He played at outside Centre (rugby union), centre for the Irish provincial team Leinster Rugby, Leinster and for Ireland national rugby union te ...
won in 2009. File:Graeme McDowell.jpg,
Graeme McDowell Graeme McDowell (born 30 July 1979) is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland. He has a total of eleven tournament victories on the European Tour, and four on the PGA Tour, including one major championship, the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble B ...
won in 2010. File:Rory McIlroy (9094912745).jpg,
Rory McIlroy Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking and has spent over 100 weeks in that position du ...
won in 2011 and 2014. File:Katie Taylor 2012 (cropped).jpg,
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
won in 2012, 2020 and 2022. File:Tony McCoy.JPG, A. P. "Tony" McCoy won in 2013. File:Michael Conlan Web Summit.jpg, Michael Conlan won in 2015. File:Conor McGregor.jpg,
Conor McGregor Conor Anthony McGregor (born 14 July 1988) is an Irish professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. He is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) UFC Featherweight Championship, Featherweight and UFC Lightweight Championship, Li ...
won in 2016. File:FIFA WC-qualification 2014 - Austria vs Ireland 2013-09-10 - James McClean 01.jpg, James McClean won in 2017. File:Jonathan Sexton - 2013-09-04.jpg,
Johnny Sexton Jonathan Jeremiah Sexton (born 11 July 1985) is an Irish former professional rugby union player who played as a Fly-half (rugby union), fly-half and Captain (sports), captained the Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland national team from ...
won in 2018. File:Shane Lowry KLM Open 2010.JPG,
Shane Lowry Shane Lowry (born 2 April 1987) is an Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. His notable achievements include winning the 2019 Open Championship, the Irish Open (golf), Irish Open as an amateur in 2009 Europe ...
won in 2019. File:Rhys McClenaghan (IRL) 2022.jpg,
Rhys McClenaghan Rhys Joshua McClenaghan (born 21 July 1999) is an artistic gymnast from Northern Ireland who competes internationally both for Ireland and Northern Ireland. McClenaghan is widely recognised as one of the best pommel horse specialists of his ge ...
won in 2023.


By number of wins

This table lists those who have won more than once (ordered by the most wins, with the earliest win acting as a tie-breaker). ''Accurate up-to and including the 2022 award.''


By sport

This table lists the total number of awards won by the winner's sport (ordered by number of wins, with the earliest win acting as a tie-breaker). The 3 winners in 1988 (all golfers) are counted separately. ''Accurate up-to and including the 2024 award.''


By gender

This table lists the total number of awards won by the winner's gender. There have not yet been any mixed-gender winners (unlike figure-skating couple
Jayne Torvill Jayne Torvill, OBE (born 7 October 1957) is a British professional ice dancer and former competitor. She and her partner Christopher Dean are considered amongst the greatest ice dancers of all time. The pair won a gold medal at the 1984 Wint ...
and
Christopher Dean Christopher Colin Dean, OBE (born 27 July 1958) is a British ice dancer considered, with his skating partner Jayne Torvill, amongst the greatest ice dancers of all time. The pair won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal ...
in the British equivalent). The 3 (male) winners in 1988 are counted separately. ''Accurate up-to and including the 2023 award.''


By disability

So far (as of the 2022 awards) all winners have been able-bodied athletes, but para athletes among the nominees have included Jason Smyth (para athletics) in 2012 to 2014, 2017 to 2019, and 2021, and Katie George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal (para cycling) in 2016 and 2017.


2010s winners and nominees

The winner is in bold.


2010

*
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(boxing) *
Graeme McDowell Graeme McDowell (born 30 July 1979) is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland. He has a total of eleven tournament victories on the European Tour, and four on the PGA Tour, including one major championship, the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble B ...
(golf) * Gráinne Murphy (swimming) *
Tony McCoy Sir Anthony Peter McCoy (born 4 May 1974), commonly known as AP McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish former National Hunt horse racing jockey. Based in Ireland and Britain, McCoy rode a record 4,358 winners and was Champion Jockey a recor ...
(horse racing) * Lar Corbett (hurling) * Paddy Barnes (boxing) *
Tommy Bowe Thomas John Bowe (born 22 February 1984) is an Irish television presenter and former rugby union player from County Monaghan, Ireland. He played on the wing for Ulster, Ospreys, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. After his playing career ...
(rugby union) *
Derval O'Rourke Derval O'Rourke (born 28 May 1981) is an Irish former sprint hurdles athlete. She competed internationally in the 60 and 100 metres hurdles, and is the Irish national record holder in the former. She participated in two In ...
(athletics) *
Rory McIlroy Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking and has spent over 100 weeks in that position du ...
(golf)


2011

*
Darren Clarke Darren Christopher Clarke (born 14 August 1968) is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions and has previously played on the European Tour and PGA Tour. He has won 21 tournaments worldwide on ...
(golf) * Michael Fennelly (hurling) * Seán O'Brien (rugby union) *
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(boxing) *
Rory McIlroy Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking and has spent over 100 weeks in that position du ...
(golf) *
John Joe Nevin John Joseph Nevin (born 7 June 1989, is an Irish professional boxer. He is a two-time Olympian, and a London 2012 silver medalist. Early life John Joseph Nevin was born in Mullingar, County Westmeath, and is a member of the Traveller communit ...
(boxing) * Kevin O'Brien (
cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...
) * Alan Brogan (
Gaelic football Gaelic football (; short name '')'', commonly known as simply Gaelic, GAA, or football, is an Irish team sport. A form of football, it is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score ...
) *
Robbie Keane Robert David Keane (born 8 July 1980) is an Irish professional football coach and former player who played as a striker and is currently the head coach of Ferencváros. Keane served as captain of the Republic of Ireland from March 2006 until h ...
(soccer)


2012

* Fionnuala Britton (athletics) *
Rob Kearney Robert Kearney (born 26 March 1986) is an Irish former rugby union player. He spent 15 years playing for Leinster, before having a six-month stint in Australia where he played for Perth based side Western Force. Kearney also played over a deca ...
(rugby union) *
Karl Lacey Karl Lacey (born 10 September 1984) is an Irish Gaelic football coach, manager and former player for Four Masters and the Donegal county team. His county's most decorated individual player, his personal achievements include four All Star awar ...
(Gaelic football) *
Rory McIlroy Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking and has spent over 100 weeks in that position du ...
(golf) *
Michael McKillop Michael Gerard McKillop (born 27 January 1990 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland) is an Irish middle distance runner. He competes in the T37 disability sport classification, as he has a mild form of cerebral palsy. He won the 800m title at the ...
(athletics) * Joseph O'Brien (horse racing) * Mark Rohan (cycling) *
Henry Shefflin Henry Shefflin (born 11 January 1979) is an Irish hurling List of hurling managers, manager and former player who was the manager of the Galway senior hurling team from 2021 to 2024. In his playing career he was nicknamed "King Henry" because o ...
(hurling) * Jason Smyth (
para Para, or PARA, may refer to: Businesses, professions, and organizations * Paramount Global, traded as PARA on the Nasdaq stock exchange * Para Group, the former name of CT Corp * Para Rubber, now Skellerup, a New Zealand manufacturer * Para ...
athletics) *
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(boxing)


2013

* Robert Heffernan (athletics) *
Martyn Irvine Martyn Irvine (born 6 June 1985) is a Northern Ireland-born former cyclist, who competed professionally between 2008 and 2017 for the Pezula Racing, Planet X, , , and teams, and rode at the 2012 Olympic Games. He was also a directeur sportif f ...
(cycling) * Tony Kelly (hurling) * Michael Darragh MacAuley (Gaelic football) *
Tony McCoy Sir Anthony Peter McCoy (born 4 May 1974), commonly known as AP McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish former National Hunt horse racing jockey. Based in Ireland and Britain, McCoy rode a record 4,358 winners and was Champion Jockey a recor ...
(horse racing) *
Michael McKillop Michael Gerard McKillop (born 27 January 1990 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland) is an Irish middle distance runner. He competes in the T37 disability sport classification, as he has a mild form of cerebral palsy. He won the 800m title at the ...
(athletics) * Annalise Murphy (
sailing Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, Windsurfing, windsurfer, or Kitesurfing, kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (Land sa ...
) * Joseph O'Brien (horse racing) *
Jason Quigley Jason Quigley is an Australian rules football field umpire in the Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the pre-eminent professional sports, professional competition of Australian rules football. It was origi ...
(boxing) *
Johnny Sexton Jonathan Jeremiah Sexton (born 11 July 1985) is an Irish former professional rugby union player who played as a Fly-half (rugby union), fly-half and Captain (sports), captained the Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland national team from ...
(rugby union) * Jason Smyth (para athletics)


2014

*
Niamh Briggs Niamh Briggs (born 30 September 1984) is a former Ireland women's national rugby union team, Ireland women's rugby union international. She represented Ireland at the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup squads, 2010 and 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup sq ...
(rugby union) *
Seamus Coleman Seamus may refer to: * Séamus () is an Irish male given name, of Jacob (name), Hebrew origin via James (given name), Latin. It is the Irish equivalent of the name James (name), James. The name James is the English New Testament variant for t ...
(soccer) * Briege Corkery (
camogie Camogie ( ; ) is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and worldwide, largely among Irish communities. A variant of the game "hurling" (which is played by men only), it is organised ...
and
ladies' Gaelic football Ladies' Gaelic football () is an Irish team sport for women. It is the women's equivalent of Gaelic football. Ladies' football is organised by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association. Two teams of 15 players kick or hand-pass a round ball toward ...
) * Mark English (athletics) *
Carl Frampton Carl Frampton (born 21 February 1987) is a Northern Irish former professional boxer who competed from 2009 to 2021. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the WBA (super) super bantamweight title in 2016, and the IBF su ...
(boxing) *
Rory McIlroy Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking and has spent over 100 weeks in that position du ...
(golf) *
Michael McKillop Michael Gerard McKillop (born 27 January 1990 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland) is an Irish middle distance runner. He competes in the T37 disability sport classification, as he has a mild form of cerebral palsy. He won the 800m title at the ...
(athletics) *
James O'Donoghue James O'Donoghue (born 19 June 1990) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Kerry Senior Football Championship, Kerry SFC club Killarney Legion GAA, Killarney Legion. He is a former player at senior level for the Kerry county football team, ...
(Gaelic football) *
Johnny Sexton Jonathan Jeremiah Sexton (born 11 July 1985) is an Irish former professional rugby union player who played as a Fly-half (rugby union), fly-half and Captain (sports), captained the Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland national team from ...
(rugby union) * Jason Smyth (para athletics) * Richie Hogan (hurling) *
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(boxing)


2015

* Michael Conlan (boxing) * Leighton Aspell (horse racing) *
Rena Buckley Rena Buckley is an Irish sportswoman who played at senior level for both the Cork county ladies' football team and the Cork county camogie team. She has also represented Munster in the Gael Linn Cup and Ireland at international rules. Betwe ...
(
camogie Camogie ( ; ) is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and worldwide, largely among Irish communities. A variant of the game "hurling" (which is played by men only), it is organised ...
) *
Andy Lee Andy Lee may refer to: __NOTOC__ Sportspeople * Andy Lee (American football) (born 1982), American football punter * Andy Lee (boxer) (born 1984), Irish boxer * Andy Lee (footballer, born 1982), English footballer for Bradford City * Andy Lee (footb ...
(boxing) *
Shane Lowry Shane Lowry (born 2 April 1987) is an Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. His notable achievements include winning the 2019 Open Championship, the Irish Open (golf), Irish Open as an amateur in 2009 Europe ...
(golf) *
Jack McCaffrey Jack McCaffrey (born 19 October 1993) is a Gaelic footballer who plays for Clontarf GAA, Clontarf. Early and personal life His father Noel McCaffrey, Noel also represented Dublin in football. McCaffrey attended Belvedere College private school ...
(Gaelic football) *
Rory McIlroy Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking and has spent over 100 weeks in that position du ...
(golf) *
Michael McKillop Michael Gerard McKillop (born 27 January 1990 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland) is an Irish middle distance runner. He competes in the T37 disability sport classification, as he has a mild form of cerebral palsy. He won the 800m title at the ...
(athletics) *
Paul O'Connell Paul Jeremiah O'Connell (born 20 October 1979) is an Irish rugby union coach and former player. When he retired, he was Ireland's third most-capped player (108) and the eighteenth most-capped international player in rugby union history. Duri ...
(rugby union) *
TJ Reid Thomas Joseph Reid (born 16 November 1987), known as T. J. Reid, is an Irish Hurling, hurler who plays for Kilkenny Senior Hurling Championship, Kilkenny Senior Championship club Ballyhale Shamrocks GAA, Ballyhale Shamrocks and at inter-county l ...
(hurling) * Sophie Spence (rugby union) * Richie Towell (soccer) * Jon Walters (soccer) *
Conor McGregor Conor Anthony McGregor (born 14 July 1988) is an Irish professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. He is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) UFC Featherweight Championship, Featherweight and UFC Lightweight Championship, Li ...
(
MMA Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...
)


2016

*
Séamus Callanan Séamus Callanan (born 15 September 1988) is an Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary Senior Championship club Drom & Inch and is a former All-Ireland winning captain of the Tipperary senior hurling team. Often considered one of the best pla ...
(hurling) * Eoghan Clifford (cycling) * Katie-George Dunlevy & Eve McCrystal (
para Para, or PARA, may refer to: Businesses, professions, and organizations * Paramount Global, traded as PARA on the Nasdaq stock exchange * Para Group, the former name of CT Corp * Para Rubber, now Skellerup, a New Zealand manufacturer * Para ...
cycling) * Denise Gaule (camogie) *
Brian Fenton Brian Fenton (born 2 March 1994) is a Gaelic footballer who plays for the Raheny club and previously for the Dublin county team. He was the 2018 and 2020 GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year. Education and family His father (Brian senior), is from ...
(Gaelic football) *
Carl Frampton Carl Frampton (born 21 February 1987) is a Northern Irish former professional boxer who competed from 2009 to 2021. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the WBA (super) super bantamweight title in 2016, and the IBF su ...
(boxing) * Daryl Horgan (soccer) * Annalise Murphy (sailing) *
Conor McGregor Conor Anthony McGregor (born 14 July 1988) is an Irish professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. He is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) UFC Featherweight Championship, Featherweight and UFC Lightweight Championship, Li ...
(MMA) * Paul O'Donovan (rowing) *
Jamie Heaslip James Heaslip (born 15 December 1983) is an Irish people, Irish former rugby union player who represented Leinster Rugby, Leinster, Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He played as a Number 8 (rugby union), ...
(rugby union) * Bríd Stack (ladies' Gaelic football)


2017

*
Rena Buckley Rena Buckley is an Irish sportswoman who played at senior level for both the Cork county ladies' football team and the Cork county camogie team. She has also represented Munster in the Gael Linn Cup and Ireland at international rules. Betwe ...
(Camogie) *
Ryan Burnett Ryan Burnett (born 21 May 1992) is an Irish former professional boxer who competed from 2013 to 2019. He was a unified bantamweight world champion, having held the WBA (Unified) and IBF titles between 2017 and 2018. At regional level he held ...
(Boxing) * Joe Canning (Hurling) * Katie George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal (para cycling) * Noëlle Healy (Ladies' Gaelic Football) * James McClean (Soccer) *
Michael McKillop Michael Gerard McKillop (born 27 January 1990 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland) is an Irish middle distance runner. He competes in the T37 disability sport classification, as he has a mild form of cerebral palsy. He won the 800m title at the ...
(Athletics) *
Andy Moran Andy Moran (born 2 November 1983) is an Irish people, Irish Gaelic football Manager (Gaelic games), manager and former player for Ballaghaderreen GAA, Ballaghaderreen and the Mayo county football team, Mayo county team. A former manager of Leit ...
(Gaelic Football) *
Conor Murray Gerard Conor Murray (born 20 April 1989) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for United Rugby Championship club Munster. He is set to leave at the end of the season. Early life Murray was born in Limerick, where he atten ...
(Rugby) * Paul O'Donovan (Rowing) *
Robbie Power Robbie "Puppy" Power is a retired National Hunt jockey. The son of Irish show-jumper Con Power, Robbie Power rode the 33-1 outsider Silver Birch to victory in the 2007 John Smith's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday 14 April 2007. ...
(Horse racing) * Jason Smyth (Para athletics) *
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(Boxing) * Joe Ward (Boxing)


2018

* Sinéad Aherne (Ladies' Gaelic Football) * Thomas Barr (Athletics) *
Brian Fenton Brian Fenton (born 2 March 1994) is a Gaelic footballer who plays for the Raheny club and previously for the Dublin county team. He was the 2018 and 2020 GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year. Education and family His father (Brian senior), is from ...
(Gaelic Football) * Kellie Harrington (Boxing) * Ellen Keane (Swimming) * Cian Lynch (Hurling) *
Rhys McClenaghan Rhys Joshua McClenaghan (born 21 July 1999) is an artistic gymnast from Northern Ireland who competes internationally both for Ireland and Northern Ireland. McClenaghan is widely recognised as one of the best pommel horse specialists of his ge ...
(Gymnastics) * Ayeisha McFerran (
Hockey ''Hockey'' is a family of List of stick sports, stick sports where two opposing teams use hockey sticks to propel a ball or disk into a goal. There are many types of hockey, and the individual sports vary in rules, numbers of players, apparel, ...
) *
Sanita Pušpure Sanita Pušpure (; born 21 December 1981) is a Latvian-born Irish rower. She was a back-to-back world champion in the women's single scull, winning her title at the 2018 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv and defending it at the 2019 World R ...
(
Rowing Rowing is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using the sweeping motions of oars to displace water and generate reactional propulsion. Rowing is functionally similar to paddling, but rowing requires oars to be mechanically a ...
) *
Davy Russell David Niall Russell (born 27 June 1979) is an Irish retired National Hunt jockey. He was Irish jump racing Champion Jockey three times, and won the Grand National (twice), the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris. Childho ...
(Horse racing) *
Johnny Sexton Jonathan Jeremiah Sexton (born 11 July 1985) is an Irish former professional rugby union player who played as a Fly-half (rugby union), fly-half and Captain (sports), captained the Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland national team from ...
(Rugby) * Jason Smyth (Para athletics) *
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(Boxing)


2019

*
Séamus Callanan Séamus Callanan (born 15 September 1988) is an Irish hurler who plays for Tipperary Senior Championship club Drom & Inch and is a former All-Ireland winning captain of the Tipperary senior hurling team. Often considered one of the best pla ...
(Hurling) *
Stephen Cluxton Stephen Cluxton (born 17 December 1981) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays as a goalkeeper at senior level for the Dublin county team. Cluxton made his senior debut for Dublin during the 2001 Championship. Since then he has established h ...
(Gaelic Football) * Niamh Kilkenny (Camogie) *
Shane Lowry Shane Lowry (born 2 April 1987) is an Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. His notable achievements include winning the 2019 Open Championship, the Irish Open (golf), Irish Open as an amateur in 2009 Europe ...
(Golf) *
Ciara Mageean Ciara Mageean ( ; born 12 March 1992) is a middle-distance runner from Portaferry in Northern Ireland who specialises in the 1500 metres. She is the 2024 European Athletics Championships gold medalist at the distance, the first individual Irish ...
(Athletics) *
Rhys McClenaghan Rhys Joshua McClenaghan (born 21 July 1999) is an artistic gymnast from Northern Ireland who competes internationally both for Ireland and Northern Ireland. McClenaghan is widely recognised as one of the best pommel horse specialists of his ge ...
(
Gymnastics Gymnastics is a group of sport that includes physical exercises requiring Balance (ability), balance, Strength training, strength, Flexibility (anatomy), flexibility, agility, Motor coordination, coordination, artistry and endurance. The movem ...
) * Denise O'Sullivan (Soccer) *
Sanita Pušpure Sanita Pušpure (; born 21 December 1981) is a Latvian-born Irish rower. She was a back-to-back world champion in the women's single scull, winning her title at the 2018 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv and defending it at the 2019 World R ...
(Rowing) * Jason Smyth (Para athletics) *
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(Boxing)


2020s winners and nominees

The winner is in bold.


2020

*
Sanita Pušpure Sanita Pušpure (; born 21 December 1981) is a Latvian-born Irish rower. She was a back-to-back world champion in the women's single scull, winning her title at the 2018 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv and defending it at the 2019 World R ...
(Rowing) * Sam Bennett (Cycling) *
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(Boxing) * Ciarán Kilkenny (Gaelic Football) * Gearóid Hegarty (Hurling) * Colin Keane (Horse Racing)


2021

* Rachael Blackmore (Horse Racing) * Kellie Harrington (Boxing) * Ellen Keane (Swimming) * Cian Lynch (Hurling) *
Leona Maguire Leona Maguire (born 30 November 1994) is an Irish professional golfer. She held the record for the most weeks at the top of the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and in 2022 became the first – and, to date, only – Irish woman to win on the LPGA ...
(Golf) * Jason Smyth (Para athletics) *
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(Boxing) * Vikki Wall (Ladies' Gaelic football)


2022

*
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(Boxing) * Rachael Blackmore (Horse Racing) * Amy Broadhurst (Boxing) *
Katie McCabe Katie Alison McCabe (born 21 September 1995) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for English Women's Super League club Arsenal and captains the Republic of Ireland women's national team. Mainly a left back, she can also operate as ...
(Ladies' soccer) *
Rhys McClenaghan Rhys Joshua McClenaghan (born 21 July 1999) is an artistic gymnast from Northern Ireland who competes internationally both for Ireland and Northern Ireland. McClenaghan is widely recognised as one of the best pommel horse specialists of his ge ...
(Gymnastics) *
Rory McIlroy Rory Daniel McIlroy (born 4 May 1989) is a Northern Irish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking and has spent over 100 weeks in that position du ...
(Golf) *
Ciara Mageean Ciara Mageean ( ; born 12 March 1992) is a middle-distance runner from Portaferry in Northern Ireland who specialises in the 1500 metres. She is the 2024 European Athletics Championships gold medalist at the distance, the first individual Irish ...
(Athletics) * Ronan Grimes (Para athletics) *
David Clifford David Clifford (Irish language, Irish: ''Daithí Ó Clúmháin'') (born 22 January 1999) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays as a corner-forward or full-forward at club level for Fossa GAA, Fossa and East Kerry GAA, East Kerry and for the Ke ...
(Gaelic football) * Josh van der Flier (Rugby)


2023

*
Rhys McClenaghan Rhys Joshua McClenaghan (born 21 July 1999) is an artistic gymnast from Northern Ireland who competes internationally both for Ireland and Northern Ireland. McClenaghan is widely recognised as one of the best pommel horse specialists of his ge ...
(Gymnastics) *
Johnny Sexton Jonathan Jeremiah Sexton (born 11 July 1985) is an Irish former professional rugby union player who played as a Fly-half (rugby union), fly-half and Captain (sports), captained the Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland national team from ...
(Rugby) *
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(Boxing) *
Paul Townend Paul Townend (born 15 September 1990) is an Irish people, Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. From Lisgoold in County Cork, he has been attached to the yard of Irish trainer Willie Mullins since he was fifteen, beginning his care ...
(Horse Racing) *
Katie McCabe Katie Alison McCabe (born 21 September 1995) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for English Women's Super League club Arsenal and captains the Republic of Ireland women's national team. Mainly a left back, she can also operate as ...
(Ladies' soccer) * Aaron Gillane (Hurling) * Róisín Ní Riain (Para swimming)


2024

*
Rhys McClenaghan Rhys Joshua McClenaghan (born 21 July 1999) is an artistic gymnast from Northern Ireland who competes internationally both for Ireland and Northern Ireland. McClenaghan is widely recognised as one of the best pommel horse specialists of his ge ...
(Gymnastics) * Kellie Harrington (Boxing) *
Daniel Wiffen Daniel Wiffen (born 14 July 2001) is an Irish swimmer. He is an Olympic champion and bronze medalist, two-time world champion and three-time European short course champion. In December 2024, he was named BBC Northern Ireland Sports Perso ...
(Swimming) *
Ciara Mageean Ciara Mageean ( ; born 12 March 1992) is a middle-distance runner from Portaferry in Northern Ireland who specialises in the 1500 metres. She is the 2024 European Athletics Championships gold medalist at the distance, the first individual Irish ...
(Athletics) * Shane O'Donnell (Hurling) * Katie-George Dunlevy (Para Cycling) *
Katie Taylor Katie Taylor (born 2 July 1986) is an Irish professional boxer and former footballer. She was the undisputed and undefeated lineal world lightweight champion from 2019 to 2024, and has held the undisputed and lineal world super lightweight ...
(Boxing) *
Paul Townend Paul Townend (born 15 September 1990) is an Irish people, Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. From Lisgoold in County Cork, he has been attached to the yard of Irish trainer Willie Mullins since he was fifteen, beginning his care ...
(Horse Racing) *
Anthony Cacace Anthony Cacace ( , ; born 2 February 1989) is a professional boxer from Northern Ireland. He has held the International Boxing Organization (IBO) super-featherweight title since 2022, and previously held the International Boxing Federation (IB ...
(Boxing) * Paul O'Donovan (rowing) * Rhasidat Adeleke (Athletics) * Róisín Ní Riain (Para swimming)


Young Sportsperson of the Year


2017

* Gina Akpe-Moses (Athletics) *
David Clifford David Clifford (Irish language, Irish: ''Daithí Ó Clúmháin'') (born 22 January 1999) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays as a corner-forward or full-forward at club level for Fossa GAA, Fossa and East Kerry GAA, East Kerry and for the Ke ...
(Gaelic Football) *
Mona McSharry Mona McSharry (born 21 August 2000) is an Irish competitive swimmer. She is a two-time Olympian and won the bronze medal in the 100 metre breaststroke at the 2024 Summer Olympics. McSharry is also a World Championships (25m) and European Sho ...
(Swimming)


2018

* Rhasidat Adeleke (Athletics) *
David Clifford David Clifford (Irish language, Irish: ''Daithí Ó Clúmháin'') (born 22 January 1999) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays as a corner-forward or full-forward at club level for Fossa GAA, Fossa and East Kerry GAA, East Kerry and for the Ke ...
(Gaelic Football) *
Niamh Coyne Niamh Coyne (born 22 June 2001) is an Irish swimmer. She competed in the women's 50 metre breaststroke at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships held in Gwangju, South Korea and she did not advance to compete in the semi-finals. Career In Octo ...
(Swimming) * Sean Crean (Karate) *
Lara Gillespie Lara Gillespie (born 21 April 2001) is an Irish professional racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's WorldTeam . She won the gold medal in the elimination race, or 'devil', at the 2025 UEC European Track Championships. Career At ...
(Cycling) * Kyle Hayes (Hurling) * Sarah Healy (Athletics) * Sommer Lecky (Athletics) *
Rhys McClenaghan Rhys Joshua McClenaghan (born 21 July 1999) is an artistic gymnast from Northern Ireland who competes internationally both for Ireland and Northern Ireland. McClenaghan is widely recognised as one of the best pommel horse specialists of his ge ...
(Gymnastics) * Daina Moorehouse (Boxing) *
Donnacha O'Brien Donnacha O'Brien (born 22 July 1998) is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey who competed in Flat racing. O'Brien is the son of multiple champion trainer Aidan O'Brien and brother of jockey and trainer Joseph O'Brien. Donnacha O'Brien ...
(Horse Racing) * Nicole Turner (Para Swimming) * Derbhla Rooney (Boxing)


2019

* Rhasidat Adeleke (Athletics) *
Craig Casey Craig Patrick Casey (born 19 April 1999) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for United Rugby Championship club Munster and the Ireland national team. Early life Born in Limerick, Casey captained Ardscoil Rís to the se ...
(Rugby) * Aaron Connolly (Soccer) * Niamh Fay (Boxing) *
Lara Gillespie Lara Gillespie (born 21 April 2001) is an Irish professional racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's WorldTeam . She won the gold medal in the elimination race, or 'devil', at the 2025 UEC European Track Championships. Career At ...
(Cycling) * Sarah Healy (Athletics) *
Rhys McClenaghan Rhys Joshua McClenaghan (born 21 July 1999) is an artistic gymnast from Northern Ireland who competes internationally both for Ireland and Northern Ireland. McClenaghan is widely recognised as one of the best pommel horse specialists of his ge ...
(Gymnastics) *
Mona McSharry Mona McSharry (born 21 August 2000) is an Irish competitive swimmer. She is a two-time Olympian and won the bronze medal in the 100 metre breaststroke at the 2024 Summer Olympics. McSharry is also a World Championships (25m) and European Sho ...
(Swimming) * Adrian Mullen (Hurling) * Kate O'Connor (Athletics) * Nicole Turner (Para Swimming)


2020

* Aaron Hill (Snooker) * Katelynn Phelan (Boxing) *
Keane Barry Keane Barry (born 25 June 2002) is an Irish professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. A professional since 2021, he has participated in six PDC World Championships and reached his first PDC major se ...
(Darts) * Oisin Mullin (Gaelic Football) * Oisin O'Callaghan (Mountain Biking)


2021

* Amy Hunter (Cricket) * Emma Duggan (Ladies' Gaelic football) *
Gavin Bazunu Gavin Okeroghene Bazunu (born 20 February 2002) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Southampton, and the Republic of Ireland national team. Bazunu started his career at Shamrock Rovers, making his first team ...
(Soccer) *
Lara Gillespie Lara Gillespie (born 21 April 2001) is an Irish professional racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's WorldTeam . She won the gold medal in the elimination race, or 'devil', at the 2025 UEC European Track Championships. Career At ...
(Cycling) * Nicole Turner (Para Swimming) * Rhasidat Adeleke (Athletics)


2022

* Rhasidat Adeleke (Athletics) * James Culhane (Rugby) * Eve McMahon (Sailing) *
Israel Olatunde Israel Olatunde (born 29 May 2002) is an Irish professional track and field athlete specializing in the sprints. He competed at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships, and reached the final of the 100 metres at the 2022 European Athletics ...
(Athletics) * Lisa O'Rourke (Boxing)


2023

* Brian Gleeson (Rugby) * Elizabeth Ndudi (Athletics) * Nick Griggs (Athletics) * Eve McMahon (Sailing) * Evan Ferguson (Soccer) * Roisin Ní Ríain (Para Swimming)


2024

* Lucy Benezet Minns (Cycling) * Kyla Doyle (Boxing) * Oisin Joyce (Athletics) * Eve McMahon (Sailing) * Adam Olanyian (Boxing) * Roisin Ní Ríain (Para Swimming)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:RTE Sports Person of the Year 2000 establishments in Ireland Awards established in 2000
Ire Ire or IRE may refer to: Ire * Extreme anger; intense fury * Irē, the Livonian name for Mazirbe, Latvia * A town in Oye, Nigeria * ''Ire'' (album), a 2015 album by the Australian metalcore band Parkway Drive * Ire (Iliad), a town mentioned in ...
Person of the Year Award Irish sports trophies and awards